This is my last week in the life post - I have enjoyed it this year especially as I have documented nearly each night. Certainly using the templates makes it easy and Im thrilled I have a full week just like this to add to my Project Life.

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The boys were fascinated to learn that not only did Ma write a children’s story she was also in the process of illustrating it.

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We skipped mass today as we waited to see what the weather held and what Lisa’s plans were. As it turned out Will’s family came down from Brisbane so they spent the morning with them in Surfers. We headed off for brunch at our favourite cafe and then went shopping for some colouring books and activities for the boys.I managed to revitalise the lovely floral arrangement Richard’s team had sent us last week by replacing the wilting flowers with fresh ones. I am quite chuffed with how it turned out. This morning Richard taught Sofia how to play triominos. She took to it quickly and beat him in just three rounds. Mid afternoon she challenged me and won again. Beginner’s luck I say.I joined Lisa and the boys to visit Ma and Pa for afternoon tea. She has such a small house filled with precious treasures we were a bit wary about how the boys would cope. They were so well behaved except when Chase asked for a ham sandwich - that’s never good in a Jewish household. Or when I went to take photos and he kept turning his back to me. He couldn’t even be enticed with his banana milkshake. Later on though he was all smiles and cuddles when Lisa snapped a shot of him with me. Lisa’s three boys are all so delightful but I keep threatening to keep Chase the littlest. He is so so cute. They all turn on the charm in a way my girls have never done. Ma fills her days with an amazing number of things. She is currently writing some children’s stories and illustrating them. I am not sure if she plans on ever having them published but she is enjoying the process. Today she shared some of her illustrations with the boys. They were so fascinated.After we headed back to our home for dinner. Will was at his work course so it was just the 5 kids, Lisa, Richard and I. We used our extension on our new dining room table for the first time - it worked a treat. The girls would have loved their cousins to stay all night but tomorrow is school and the boys were tired so the evening ended far too soon. It’s lovely having them here even though they aren’t staying with us. I so wished they lived here. Lisa wishes we lived there. I’m not sure we will ever live close unfortunately.

I am still taking photos with just my iphone - not ah uge amount a dozen or so if that but still able to tell the story of each day quite well. I used the kindle photo from the web as I dont have one yet it's just to document my research :)and of course the movie image too.

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We tried not to allow the weather to interrupt our plans for the day too much.

The rain continued with vengeance today hampering our plans. We headed off early to vote in the local council elections. Our plan was to spend the day at Seaworld with Lisa, Will and the kids. After much discussion, everyone went except me. I can’t get ill right now so it wasn’t worth the risk. They had a fun time despite the weather, with the bright spot being that there was no waiting for rides or shows. The park was quite empty unsurprisingly. As expected, Richard and the girls took zero photos. I made vegetable soup for afternoon tea in preparation my three wet and tired lovelies. I took advantage of the quiet and continued with my research into E readers. I have finally decided on a Kindle Touch without the 3G and now I am waiting not too patiently for Richard to get it for me. Lisa and I had planned on a movie so we turned it into a real treat and went to Gold Class at Robina. She had never been before. We arrived early and sat in the lounge with a hot drink and chatted. It was our first chance to catch up alone since they arrived. The movie was soppy and predictable but enjoyable. Afterwards we headed to Max Brenners to indulge with dessert. It was my first Max cappuccino in eight months and I loved every drop.

I had my camera out much more on Friday - though I have realised that I am yet to actually get in a photo - I will have to fix that tomorrow.

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Our day was filled with a whole heap of ordinary just the way we like it

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Today was filled with lots of ordinary. Friday is a busy work day for Richard so I try to leave him in peace. I do a long workout at gym and shower there before heading off on an adventure. Today was Helensvale. Westfield held a fashion show and I received a goodie bag filled with vouchers. I had a little shopping list of new Pjs for me and a gift I needed to get. I also came away with new Pjs for the girls. I really enjoyed my day and managed to make time for two coffees and some lunch which more than made up for my unhappy yesterday. I came home to a huge box with our new iron arrived courtesy of Nuffnang and Tefal. Richard is reading the manual and will be trying it in the next day or so. The bus runs late on a Friday due to high school inter school sport so Richard spent some time yet again trying to explain to me how Facebook works. I am still none the wiser. I wish there was some download that I could just pop into my brain. I get a mental block when I hear the word Facebook.The girls were so chuffed with their Pjs and were quick to jump into them once we picked them up from the bus. The rain has been heavy and so we decided it was a perfect DVD night. I chose Tin Tin but they didn’t want to watch it. I wish all our days were filled with such ordinary things.

Welcome to another installment of Feel Better Friday. How has your week been?

I am quite pleased to say that our weather has turned cooler and I am really enjoying the change.

Next week I head into another round of surgery and I have realised I am feeling so much better this time in comparison to last time. While the surgery is almost the same it will be interesting to see if I recover more quickly. I'll let you know :)

To weigh or not to weigh

While I am as keen as anyone else to not have to buy something to get a project or idea off the ground I really do believe if you are serious about tracking you need a set of food scales for some time until you get used to portion sizes.

I have had mine since the beginning of time - I won them as a prize for a tupperware party I had. I was told it had a lifetime guarantee and wouldn't need its battery changing. So far so good.

I use them all the time for recipes but particularly I use them for determining portion size. Some things aren't difficult to work out - meat usually comes packaged with weights on so you can easily work out the grams but if you go to a butcher and not woolies or coles they may not be. It's much harder to work out what 100gms of potato is etc. Its so easy to over guesstimate and sabotage your good work.

I had a little look on the kmart website and there is a big range - starting at $12.99 though I would recommend getting a digital set - they seem to start at $18.

Tape Measures

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer one thing my doctors said was that I would need to maintain a healthy BMI and waist measurement for the best statistics. ( thats Dr code for survival ) My whole plan around eating better and excercising more has been directed at this goal.

I keep it simple by tracking my meals and snacks and staying within a specific calorie intake each day. I also track my macros protein carbs and fats and make sure they are right. I stick to whole foods and lean meats and steer clear of diet products and low fat. Although the diet stuff is reduced in calories it's high in lots of other things which I would rather not have. While I would love to say doing this has catapulted me to a healthy BMI it hasn't yet. I am well on the way but it's no magic quick fix. What it is though, is a sensible way to eat for the rest of my life and it's family friendly which is important for me.

There are so many "cancer " fighting diets out there - Sugar creates cancer, I should be red meat, dairy and grain free, I should follow the paleo way, I should fast every two days, I should drink only juices for 40 days. There is a long list and I certainly don't discredit them. They work for some people obviously and I am not a nutritionist or dietician or expert. All I know is that I would start off doing a plan like that and then fail miserably. At least this is something I feel I can do and more importantly it is making me feel so much better. I also train in some capacity 6 days a week.

Next Monday I will have been doing this for ten weeks. I'm sure that's some sort lifestyle change :) This is not to say I don't have treats I still do but I make sure they are once every now and then rather than every day and I also work a little harder at gym on those days.

BMI - Body Mass Index is calculated using your height and your weight. A quick google will show a gazillion calculators but if you aren't sure here is one for you.

So maybe it's time to get the tape measures out and see how you are travelling. I have said many times through this series it's all about finding what works for you and weeding through the conflicting reports. BMI can be controversial - some are saying that it's not the measurement we should go by. This article on George and Brad says they are classed as overweight according to BMI. I don't feel so bad about my numbers now LOL.

Yummy Lunches

Because I am at home not at work I find it far easier to make a yummy healthy lunch than before and I am making the most of it. These would also translate well into a packed lunch.

Here are my top five

Stuffed Potato - steam or microwave a poatato then fill with salad a tin of tuna or salmon some grated cheese

Stuffed Mushrooms - two field musrooms stuffed with cottage cheese tomato balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of grated cheese. serve with salad

Vegetable Soup - throw into a pot a variety of veges roughly chopped -whatever you have and some vegetable stock - bring to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer until all the veges are softened. Use stick blender to blend. Serve with a piece of grain toast. This sounds like it would take a long time but its doesn't - 20 minutes tops.

Personal Training

I started working with a trainer at the same time as I started at gym. It was mostly around my lack of confidence in what I could and couldn't do given my treatment.

And umm no my trainer doesn't look like the Commando LOL. Her name is Kate she is the same age as me and has children the same age. I really like her as she can relate to what I am saying when we talk about nutrition and motivation.

Some weeks I was much more tired than others and Kate adjusted my routine to suit.

I love that she tries new things all the time. I am never bored with my workout. I go to gym 6 days a week and train with her 2 of those visits. Each session lasts 30 minutes. I like to take the things she teaches me and try them in my own sessions. I don't do any cardio work with her. I do that all myself so I feel like I optimise my time. So if my session is at 9.30am I arrive early enough to warm up so we can get straight into it. We don't only work on making me sweat - sessions incorporate stretching and plenty of floor excercies.. We are also working on some boxing which is really fun.

I am still so out of conditon I don't do really heavy weights but I can see a huge difference in what I was able to do before and what I can do now. Without doubt finishing chemo has helped that but much of it can also be attributed to the training I have done with Kate. When I first started I did 2 minutes on the cross trainer at level 1I literally counted down the seconds. -and thought I would die LOL.

Today I did 25 minutes at level 10 before heading to the treadmill for a 5 km walk.

Personal training does cost so I think it's really important to think about what you want to get from your sessions and the style of trainer you would like. Read their bios they will most likely be up in the gym somewhere. Don't be afraid to ask other people how they find their trainer and ask about the program that they do. Most trainers offer some sort of starting package - 3 sessions etc so you can give it a go and see if you like it before you commit. Using a trainer is also agreat way to kick start your fitness.

Plenty to think about this week - see you next week. I hope you Feel Better :)

I have been contemplating an E reader for some time. While I have the first Ipad and I do use it read sometimes I find it too heavy to hold for long periods, the rest of the family want to use it constantly, and I can't take it readily out with me to have while I'm sitting waiting for all the things I wait for these days.

Up until now it hasn't been a huge issue as I wasn't reading so much but over the last two weeks I have got back into my reading groove.

The variety is quite overwhelming and have done some research but have to say I am none the wiser.

I know I want to be able to read library books using overdrive and that's about all I am sure of. Also I find it incredibly annoying the number of books I can't get because I am in Aus - ( Amazon and Kindle ).

So tell me please if you have one which one and what do you like or not like about it- Where did you buy it ? Where do you get your books from ? Please let me know if you aren't from Australia :)

Yesterday was a tough day with Drs appointments - while there were no surprises it was still not what I wanted to hear. It's the sitting waiting and the continual realisation that life as you once knew it is still on hold. Here is my Thursday WITL project.

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Just a little note on Thursday's pictures. When I went to pull this together I realised I only had 6 pictures- the 6 that I have here. I thought oh no that hardly tells what the day was about especially when you look at Ali's blog with her many many beautiful images that she has to choose from. Then I thought oh well I will just write a bit more - but I didn't need to I had the perfect number of pictures and it all came together easily.

Pictures that I should have taken

We had meatballs for dinner

Talia dropped a plate and it shattered

Richard had meetings all day

I missed lunch while I was waiting at the Drs

I went to gym and chatted with a lovely new friend

I wrote some blog entries

I designed yesterday's Day in the Life pages

I researched E readers

There was no need for grocery shopping Richard pulled dinner just from the pantry and fridge

I finally watched the first part of Titanic

Sofia started work on her assignment- I have to get her some cardboard

Tals lost her first soccer game

Sof lost her first newcomb ball game

But I didn't. So I have gone with the pictures that I do have and written the story that they tell. Its oen of the things that I love about this project each year - It encourages you to grab some shots and tell some stories that you may not normally. Its not about documenting every minute.

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I have spent far too many hours staring out of these windows waiting for doctors appointments.

Today was no different.

I am in time loop waiting....

View From Hoca, Gold Coast

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It would be so easy to get lost in my own story this week but running alongside are these two little girls who keep me grounded. They came barreling in after school happy because they were done with homework thanks to the public holiday yesterday and the fact they had worked on it on the bus. They were quick to tell me they had heaps of time to play on the trampoline. Later that evening Sofia was in tears for the umpteenth time this week. It is hard to work out what is going on with her right now. So I asked her to come talk to me and share what the problem was. She didn’t want to. I left her to herself. It was not too long before this note was pushed into my hand as I sat talking to my sister on the phone. I love that she wrote it as an invitation. A long chat revealed there is nothing too deep about the tears - a lost game for interschool sport, a harsh word from her sister, some friends choosing to play with someone other than her today had left her with a general “feeling of sad”. (her words) I shared with her that I have “feeling of sad” days too even when I know I have lots of happy happening. She wasn’t all smiles but there were no more tears at least. I worry about how they are both affected by everything that is going on. We try to keep things moving along as they would if I wasn’t sick but I guess it is not always going to work.

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Too much of my day was lost in finalising the details for surgery on Monday. I thought that I had seen the end of those circles on the carpet but unfortunately not. My appointment with the surgeon was routine and fast but he sent me back to my hematologist. My frustration grew with every single minute that passed as I sat waiting. My feeling was irrational as I was so lucky they had fitted me in. I didn’t have an appointment. I was ( still am ) struggling with the idea of going back to those twice daily injections of clexanne. As I sat for an hour waiting to be told what I didn’t want to hear, instead of having a coffee which is what I planned, I silently fumed. His receptionist finally had mercy on me and sent me away with the promise of phoning through the details. Somehow I need to learn to focus on the good and be grateful for the skill and compassion of my medical team. They are really wonderful. My issue is with needing them at all. A bit like Sofia really, today I had a “feeling of sad” too for no real reason. I need to take my own advice and focus on the happy I have happening.

Last week Mel posted her yummy looking coffee cake recipe. It reminded me that I have a great coffee cake recipe that I haven't made forever so when I had to add something else to our dessert line up for our BBQ I dug up the recipe. I love it because it's a throw it all in and mix one. You can't go wrong.

3 eggs separated

3/4 cup castor sugar

100ml oil

1 3/4 cup SR flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tspn instant coffee

1 tbspn water

1/2 cup of chopped nuts - any pecan, brazil, walnut your choice.

1/2 tsp salt

Method

Whip your egg whites until stiffened

Dissolve the coffee in the water

In a bowl add all the ingredients except the egg whites and nuts. Mix until combined - about 90 secs with an electric beater.

Fold through the nuts and egg whites.

Pour into two prepared round 18cm tins. Bake for 30 minutes.

Icing - 2 cups of icing sugar, 2 tablespoons of softened butter or margarine, 1 tsp of coffee dissolved in 1 tbspns of water. Mix together and sandwich half the mix between the two cooled cakes. Ice the top and decorate with chocolate chips.

It's a shame Mel and I don't live in the same state or we could have a Coffee Cake Bake Off and invite you all to come be the judges :)

I had such a big day yesterday that after our guests were gone I just curled up and watched The block - go the boys! Offspring and The Good Wife. I'm really spoilt for choice with TV at the moment :)

So its only this morning that I have finally sat down to document our lovely day yesterday for my week in the life project.

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Without doubt our favourite way to spend a day iswith family and friends over for a meal.

Happy Days

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Wednesday this week was Anzac Day. Usually I am involved with services for school so it felt unusual not to be. Instead we had a BBQ planned with Lisa and her family all being here on the coast for the week. I love to cook and love it even more if I have the chance to plan an event. I did keep it easy but I am loving having a reasonable level of energy. The kids and the Dads all went off to the park for an hour while the Mums stayed back and finished organising the food. None of my family is keen on photos - I find it really hard to document these types of days as I am focussed on the meal and keeping everything flowing and it’s only every now and then I think to grab the camera. We loved our new table from Ikea which was so easy for the kids table. It was great for Ryan to have boys to play with. For a change the girls were outnumbered. Lisa and Will’s boys are so adorable I want them to stay forever. If only they lived closer.

Welcome to my blog, I am so happy you came to visit. I share the stories of my life creating, documenting and loving as a Mumma to twin girls. I am navigating a clean eating lifestyle as I run towards being a breast cancer survivor.